Facilitation

We provide adept handling of people dynamics, group processes and problem solving strategies. Our focus on the process allows participants to concentrate on the substantive issues at hand, interact constructively, and work together effectively. Facilitation services include:

Process Design

Our goal is to design processes that are participatory and meaningful, as well as economical and efficient. We first gather information and help organizations clarify what they hope to achieve and how. In designing initiatives, we assess and incorporate key elements, such as:

• Desired Outcomes
• Stakeholder Analysis
• Levels of Involvement
• Levels of Decision Making
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Timelines
• Evaluation Criteria

Most project designs include a combination of services (facilitation, mediation, training, or coaching) and processes (such as visioning, problem-solving, team building, etc.).

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Multiparty Collaboration

We facilitate collaboration between multiple parties, organizations, sectors, or communities. Sometimes projects are begun by government agencies hoping to engage stakeholders. Sometimes projects are started by non-profit s or businesses spearheading cross-sector initiatives. We also work with individuals, teams, or departments. Collaborative Solutions provides assistance to parties seeking resolution of conflict or help in advancing opportunities through collaboration.
Processes include:

• Stakeholder Analysis
• Visioning / Future Search
• Current Reality Indicators
• Strategic Planning
• Asset Mapping
• Constructive Conflict
• Consensus Building
• Dialogue and Deliberation
• Constructive Controversy
• Systems Analysis

Shared Visioning

The single most powerful process for creating change, shared visioning generates energy, ideas, ownership, better relationships, and commitment. The primary source of power is in connecting shared aspirations – those more deeply held motivators that usually go untapped. Actual propulsion, however, comes with the corollary step of looking honestly at current reality.

People are accustomed to leaders ‘selling’ perfect outcomes in exchange for support of their solutions. The result is grudging support, which, in the end, produces exactly what they expected – nothing.

Alternatively, when people are able to describe what is really happening – the good, the bad, and the ugly – without blaming or defending, they become invested in a credible effort. While not easy to do, owning up to existing reality while holding on to a shared vision causes all sorts of realization and inspiration. The course forward nearly charts itself.

Visioning activities vary by group and need, but include:

• Stakeholder Analysis
• Likely Scenarios
• Examples of Great Visions
• Imagining the Future
• Story Boards
• Current Reality Indicators
• Mental Models
• Systems Analysis
• Asset Mapping
• Force Field Analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• Advocacy and Inquiry
• Action Planning
• Ownership Initiatives
• Feedback and Improvement Loops

Strategic Planning

We design and facilitate collaborative planning efforts. Increasingly leaders are finding they must involve more people, more deeply in plans that affect them. Demanding or even asking people nicely to make big changes in their jobs, neighborhoods, schools, or communities does not work.

Engaging people’s best thinking is essential to engaging real change. Collaborative Solutions helps organizations bring key perspectives to the table in a constructive process that sparks innovation, energy and ownership. Participants develop effective strategies and take charge of their pieces when they have had a part in:

• Creating a shared vision
• Clarifying current reality
• Confronting obstacles in the way
• Developing strategies that leverage the best of all participants
• Deciding how they will contribute

Specific processes and activities may include:

• Stakeholder Analysis
• Likely Scenarios
• Alternative Futures
• Story Boards
• Current Reality Indicators
• Systems Analysis
• Asset Mapping
• Force Field Analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• Advocacy and Inquiry
• Action Planning
• Ownership Initiatives
• Feedback and Improvement Loops

Public Participation

Collaborative Solutions provides government agencies with assistance in assessing, designing, and facilitating, public participation programs. We are experienced in dealing with the challenges of involving the array of stakeholders affected by public agencies. Our focus is on creating broad and meaningful participation that is an efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars. Processes and tools include:

• Stakeholder Analysis
• Process Design
• Surveys
• Focus Groups
• Public Meetings
• Workshops
• Deliberation and Dialogue
• Citizen Advisory Committees
• Consensus Building
• Shared Decision Making
• Constructive Controversy
• Current Reality / Vision
• Asset Mapping
• Communication Materials
• Capacity Building / Training

Consensus Building

We help groups bring diverse perspectives together around particular issues. Public entities, as well as private organizations, have found that fighting opposition to initiatives is incredibly expensive and counter-productive. The more effective approach is to engage stakeholders early and constructively in defining new initiatives.

Whether it is designing a new housing development or restructuring employee programs, we facilitate a process that brings opposition to the table. The initial goal is not to make everyone agree, but to understand where they disagree. Recognizing what drives differences provides openings. The process helps key stakeholders:

• Articulate and clarify their own points of view
• Listen to reasoning and reality of others
• See the bigger picture
• Understand the complexity
• Realize interdependencies
• Begin thinking through tough choices
• Experience moments of insight
• Stop thinking about protecting
• Start thinking about creating

For examples of processes and activities included in consensus building, see Conflict Resolution and Multiparty Collaboration.

Conflict Resolution

Collaborative Solutions provides facilitation and mediation of conflict among individuals, groups, teams, and organizations. Our approaches are based on theories, research, and experience that demonstrate the productive power of constructive conflict. Our goal is not to eliminate conflict. Our goal is to facilitate beneficial conflict that improves outcomes and productivity.

We draw on principles and processes from several streams of practice, including:

• Collaborative Problem Solving
• Tran formative Mediation
• Constructive Controversy
• Interpersonal Communication
• Consensus Building
• Social Psychology
• Group Dynamics
• Emotional Intelligence
• Interest-Based Negotiation

Our facilitation services encourage team-building and shared problem solving. Call today to learn more →